After the successful launch of the free breakfast service Forth Valley College has been providing for students since in October 2022, the College is now set to begin a similar soup and roll offer.
As of Monday 30 January FVC refectories at its Falkirk, Stirling and Alloa Campuses will offer a complimentary bowl of soup and a roll to all students, from a specially prepared table station.
It is hoped this will not only support students during ongoing difficult financial times, but promote positive physical and mental well-being, increase student attendance and hopefully attainment.
Gareth Davies, FVC Chef Manager, who is pictured here (left) showing of the Falkirk table station with Lynne Tomlinson Forth Valley Student Association (FVSA) Communication and Marketing Co-ordinator and Andrew Kinnell FVSA Student Engagement Co-ordinator, said: “We have been offering our students free breakfasts for a few months now and College Principal Professor Ken Thomson, asked us to have a look to see if the offer could be expanded into offering free soup for the students.
“We are delighted to say as from Monday 30 January we will have ‘Free Soup & a Roll’ available across all three of our campuses for all students to help themselves.
“Everyone in our department is pleased to be launching this offer and the cooks, aided by our students in the refectory teams, are looking forward to getting creative and serving up some warm, nutritious and tasty soups for everyone to enjoy on a daily basis.
“We are always keen to support students in whatever way we can and all of us in the Hospitality Department encourage everyone to come and enjoy some breakfast and tasty soup when on campus.”
Claire Green, FVSA Vice President: “The Student Association welcome this new initiative because it will ensure our students have access to a hot lunch, during a time when some of them have been forced to choose between paying for travel or paying for food. Our student pantry has been very popular over the last six months too, however there is a limited supply of items. The free soup and roll, as well as the free breakfasts, will compliment the work that we are doing to ensure students won't go hungry throughout the College day.”
Professor Ken Thomson, Principal of Forth Valley College, said: “Initiatives such as this are vital for many of our students through the winter months. I am very proud of the steps our College community are taking to support our students at this difficult time.”